MODERN AND NON-MODERN CONSERVATIVISM: COMPARATIVE APPROACHES AND IDENTIFYING MODERNISM

The authoress pointed, by looking at Hronsky and Strauss, to two separate structures of existence. These two authors are key figures in that each is responsible for placing a progressive milestone, both ideological as well as poetological. This dualism determines not only the place of two non-mainstream authors in the evolution of the Slovak literary modernism, but demonstrates that they are strongly endowed with modern conservative values. The term modern conservative values leads to the task of differentiating modern conservative values and non-modern conservative values. Modernity and conservatism need not to exclude each other. The result of non-modern conservatism is the elimination of variety through definiteness and ideas of absolute truth. Non-modern conservative thinking is totalitarian and presents an exclusive and rigid concept of truth and reality. These two authors we have looked at -both personalities of the 20th century alternative Slovak culture and literature - are not to be seen in this way. Rather, Christian conservative values are visible, the value system of the 'old' continent. Returning to the central question of this paper, modern conservative values do not obstruct the freedom of artistic creation in thought and art. Non-modern conservative thinking, however, closes art into schemas and promotes totalitarianism and dangerous values for humankind.